Kent Police arrest man for fatal shooting of woman on West Hill

Kent Police arrested a 19-year-old SeaTac man for allegedly fatally shooting an 18-year-old Des Moines woman in the head on the West Hill.

Officers responded to a welfare check at about 7:42 p.m. Saturday and found the woman next to a trail in a wooded area near 24600 26th Place S., just west of Pacific Highway South on Saturday night. She was unconscious and lifesaving efforts were attempted, but she died at the scene.

Karyme Barreto-Sabalza died of gunshot wound to the head, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Late Tuesday night, Kent detectives received information that led to them a South Seattle house where the victim’s missing car was found parked in the driveway, according to a Kent Police media release on Wednesday. Detectives believed the SeaTac man was inside the house.

While personnel and resources were being staged, detectives applied for an arrest warrant, and the suspect left the residence fleeing in the victim’s vehicle. A felony stop was attempted; however, the suspect fled and a pursuit ensued leading into Des Moines. The suspect traveled westbound on Kent Des Moines Road and went north on Marine View Drive.

Officers were able to successfully spike the vehicle tires during this pursuit, causing the tires to go flat. Officers then initiated a successful PIT maneuver, disabling the vehicle and ending the pursuit. Kent Police with the assistance of Des Moines Police took the suspect into custody without incident.

“This arrest comes as a result of continuous hard work around-the-clock by our detectives,” said Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla in a press release. “It is also a great example of how well law enforcement agencies work together with one common goal, to get the bad guy off our streets. I would like to thank Des Moines PD for their assistance. This is a terrible tragedy, and we are working hard to bring justice to the family of the victim.”

On Wednesday, police had not yet released the name of the suspect, as he has not officially been charged. Police also didn’t indicate a possible motive for the shooting.